Hearing loss decisions — 2001

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence, including testimony from the veteran and statements from an audiologist and a physician. The veteran is now granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board found that the interruption of vocational rehabilitation benefits was proper, but the discontinuance of these benefits was not. The veteran's case was placed in 'interrupted status' and then later in 'discontinued status'.

The Board finds that the veteran's service-connected Meniere's syndrome is essentially stable and does not warrant an increased evaluation. The veteran's two service-connected disabilities, bilateral hearing loss and Meniere's syndrome, do not render him housebound or in need of regular aid and attendance.

The VA Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied a compensable rating for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The veteran's claim seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted, but the effective date remains July 2, 1999.

The Board finds that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, but grants these claims due to the benefit of doubt.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted a 50% disability rating. The evaluation of his pulmonary tuberculosis, which is currently rated as minimal and arrested at 0%, remains unchanged.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hearing loss is related to his military service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for hearing loss.

The VA has denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as the evidence does not show marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization due to this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right and left knee disorders do not warrant an increased rating under the applicable criteria.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no medical evidence linking his current hearing loss to his military service.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, and degenerative disk disease of the cervical spine. The claims for hearing loss, chronic pain syndrome, sinusitis, tinnitus, hemorrhoids, and a right foot disorder were denied.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the impact of the veteran's service-connected disabilities on his ability to work, and the case is remanded for this purpose.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher disability rating.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the veteran's evaluation from 40 percent to 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss was proper and denied his request for restoration of a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, as well as his claim for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current low back disorder, and his left eye disorder was present at the time of service entry. The hearing loss disability of the left ear and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated during service.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, low back pain, hip pain, and depression. Asthma was not found to be related to active service.